Power apparatus



Nov. 1s, 1930. R, R SMlTH 1,782,277

POWER APPARATUS Filed Dec. 15, 1928 INVENTOR.

RHLSTDN R smlTH A TTORMEYS.

Patented Nov'. 18, 1930` UNITED sTATEs RALs'roN R. SMITH, or Haya/Ann; cnmronma;

' POWER ArinlimimnsV i Application filed December 1,5, 1928. SerialiNo; 326,281'.V

A further object is to provide means Where-v by the device may be transported from pla-ce to place. n 1 4 A still further object is to provide a device for deriving the power irrespective of the flow of fluid. It often happens in tie gates that the current will flow lirst iny one I direction and then in the oppositedirection.

Otherobjects and advantages will be ap parent during the course of the following de,- scription. A

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in whichvlilre numerals are employed to designate' like parts throughoutthe same, i l

Figure 1 is a cross section taken on the line 1- 1 of Figure 2, and

Figure 2 is a cross section taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

There are many streams or other bodies of water wherein a definite flow takes place which -low may be utilized to. produce power and it is to accomplish this that I have. devised my invention, whichl consists primarily 'v of an electrical structure comprising vtwo pontoons as shownat 5y and 6. These pon-- toons form a device which is substantially canoe shaped that is tapered at each end. A control chamber is ormed'between' two pontoons, which chamber is designated by the numeral 7 and is adapted to house a vwater wheel 8 which may have any desired number of blades. This wheel is carried upon a shafty 9 which shaft may deliver the power generated by the water wheel Sto any suitable point forutilization.

In order to direct flow of water against the wheel it will be assumed that the device as a Whole is immersed in a body of water where- .in there is a flow and that the end A is toward the direction of the flow of water. The i result will be that a portion of the water will enter as indicated by the arrow of Figf ure 1 and pass between Vthe outwardly dif` verging ins'11` and 12, willopen the'` inlet 5,5

valves 13` and will contact the blades of the water wheel. The water will .then flow through the outlet 14 past the outlet valve 16...` The flow of water from the end A will cause the outlet` valve 'veins 17 to remainl in 601. i i

a closed'position aswell as the inlet valve rveins 18, the reason being that the valves 17 `and 18 arein al reverse -to the valves13 and 16.

position with respect At 19 and 21 I have shown a pair of di-65 verging iins similar tothe iins 11 and 12. It will here be vnoted that the lins 12 and 21 are elongated so that their adjacent ends are in a close proximity to the water wheelv8 and thusdivide the chamber 7 at each end there- 70 of. The result of this structure is that should the device beplaced in a stream where the water was flowing in the opposite' direc-- tion, the result will be that the valves 18 and 17-would open while the valves 16 and 13 7551 would close. However, .the stream would*` Vstrike the water wheel so asto continue the rotation in thesame direction as when kthe water was coming from the end A, therefore it will be seenthat no matter which direction 80,y y

the water comes, either from the end A or the end B the water will be caused to rotate in the vsame direction.

It is to' be understood that the form of myV linvention, herewith `shown and described is l to be taken as a preferredexample of the same and that various changes relative to the material, size, shape and arrangement ofV `'parts may be resorted to without departing -from the lspirit of the invention or the scope 9 kof the Y sub'j oined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claimzt In a device of the character described, a bodyportion comprising a pair of pontoons, a chamber formed between said pontoons, a division plate positioned at each end of saidv chamber, a water wheel positioned within said chamber and at apoint between the ad-k jacent ends of said division plates, an inlet 10 and outlet port formed'at each end of said chamber and at opposite sides of said division lates, avalve positioned Within each of said inlet and outlet ports, said valves comprising hinged vanes having flared ends, the flared ends ofthe inlet valves extending into Said chamber, the I'iaredends ofrsaid outlet valves extending in a reverse direction from said inlet Valves. Y Y l In testimony whereof I affix my Signature.

RALS'ION R. SMITH." 

